SECRET
WHAT IS CHILD SEX ABUSE?
CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IS A FORM OF CHILD ABUSE
THAT INCLUDES SEXUAL ACTIVITY WITH A MINOR.
A CHILD CANNOT CONSENT TO ANY FORM OF
SEXUAL ACTIVITY, PERIOD. WHEN A PERPETRATOR
ENGAGES WITH A CHILD THIS WAY, THEY ARE
COMMITTING A CRIME THAT CAN HAVE LASTING
EFFECTS ON THE VICTIM FOR YEARS. CHILD
SEXUAL ABUSE DOES NOT NEED TO INCLUDE
PHYSICAL CONTACT BETWEEN A PERPETRATOR
AND A CHILD. SOME FORMS OF CHILD SEXUAL
ABUSE INCLUDE:
OBSCENE PHONE CALLS, TEXT MESSAGES, OR DIGITAL INTERACTION
FONDLING
EXHIBITIONISM, OR EXPOSING ONESELF TO A MINOR
MASTURBATION IN THE PRESENCE OF A MINOR OR FORCING THE
MINOR TO MASTURBATE
INTERCOURSE
SEX OF ANY KIND WITH A MINOR, INCLUDING VAGINAL, ORAL, OR
ANAL
PRODUCING, OWNING, OR SHARING PORNOGRAPHIC IMAGES OR
MOVIES OF CHILDREN
SEX TRAFFICKING
ANY OTHER SEXUAL CONDUCT THAT IS HARMFUL TO A CHILD'S
MENTAL, EMOTIONAL, OR PHYSICAL WELFARE
WHO ABUSES CHILDREN?
THE MAJORITY OF PERPETRATORS ARE SOMEONE
THE CHILD OR FAMILY KNOWS. A PERPETRATOR
DOES NOT HAVE TO BE AN ADULT TO HARM A
CHILD. THEY CAN HAVE ANY RELATIONSHIP TO
THE CHILD INCLUDING AN OLDER SIBLING OR
PLAYMATE, FAMILY MEMBER, A TEACHER, A
COACH OR INSTRUCTOR, A CARETAKER, OR THE
PARENT OF ANOTHER CHILD.
 WHAT ARE THE WARNING SIGNS?
PHYSICAL SIGNS
DIFFICULTY WALKING OR SITTING
BLOODY, TORN, OR STAINED UNDERCLOTHES
BLEEDING, BRUISES, OR SWELLING IN GENITAL AREA
PAIN, ITCHING, OR BURNING IN GENITAL AREA
FREQUENT URINARY OR YEAST INFECTIONS
BEHAVIORAL SIGNS
SHRINKS AWAY OR SEEMS THREATENED BY PHYSICAL CONTACT
EXHIBITS SIGNS OF DEPRESSION OR PTSD
EXPRESSES SUICIDAL THOUGHTS, ESPECIALLY IN ADOLESCENTS
SELF-HARMS
DEVELOPS PHOBIAS
HAS TROUBLE IN SCHOOL, SUCH AS ABSENCES OR DROPS IN GRADES
CHANGES IN HYGIENE, SUCH AS REFUSING TO BATHE OR BATHING
EXCESSIVELY
RETURNS TO REGRESSIVE BEHAVIORS, SUCH AS THUMB SUCKING
RUNS AWAY FROM HOME OR SCHOOL
OVERLY PROTECTIVE AND CONCERNED FOR SIBLINGS, OR ASSUMES
A CARETAKER ROLE
NIGHTMARES OR BED-WETTING
INAPPROPRIATE SEXUAL KNOWLEDGE OR BEHAVIORS
AT SCHOOL
RESEARCH DEMONSTRATES THAT CHILDREN WHO
ARE SEXUALLY ABUSED PERFORM AT FAR LOWER
LEVELS THAN THEIR NON-ABUSED
COUNTERPARTS.
COGNITIVE ABILITY, ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, AND
MEMORY ARE LOWER AMONG SEXUALLY ABUSED CHILDREN
(FRIEDRICH, ET AL., 1994; SADEH, ET AL., 1994; TRICKETT, ET
AL., 1994; WELLS, ET AL., 1997).
SEXUALLY ABUSED CHILDREN HAVE HIGHER RATES OF
ABSENTEEISM (LEITER, ET AL., 1997), GRADE RETENTION
(REYOME, 1994), AND SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES
(REYOME, 1994).
IN A STUDY OF SEXUALLY ABUSED 7-12 YEAR-OLD GIRLS,
39% DISPLAYED ACADEMIC DIFFICULTIES, 24% HAD
REPEATED A GRADE, 15% WERE ENROLLED IN A REMEDIAL
CLASS, 48% REPORTED BELOW AVERAGE GRADES, AND
OVER 37% DISPLAYED COGNITIVE ABILITY BELOW THE 25TH
PERCENTILE (DAIGNAULT & HEBERT, 2009).
10 REASONS WHY CHILDREN DONT DISCLOSE ABUSE

9:17
STATISTICS 80% of perpetrators were a parent

1 in 10 children are sexually abused

Most child victims never report sexual abuse.

People who sexually abuse children

often go out of their way to appear trustworthy.

As many as 40% of children who are sexually abused are abused by older, or more powerful
children.12
 WHAT CAN WE, AS EDUCATORS, DO TO HELP?
TRAINING
EDUCATORS MAY BE THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT GROUP IN THE PREVENTION
AND RECOGNITION OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE. NOT ONLY DO THEY INTERACT WITH
LARGE NUMBERS OF CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS, BUT CHILDREN WHO
DISCLOSE ABUSE OFTEN TELL THEIR TEACHER, GUIDANCE COUNSELOR, OR OTHER
TRUSTED SCHOOL EMPLOYEE.
SCHOOL PERSONNEL ARE THE SOURCE OF OVER 50% OF ABUSE REPORTS MADE BY
PROFESSIONALS TO AUTHORITIES.
DESPITE THIS, ONLY ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF EDUCATORS RECEIVE CHILD SEXUAL
ABUSE TRAINING, EITHER AS PART OF THEIR TEACHER TRAINING COURSEWORK OR
THROUGH CONTINUING EDUCATION. IN FACT, 24% OF TEACHERS REPORT THAT THEY
HAVE NEVER RECEIVED INSTRUCTION, EITHER ORAL OR WRITTEN, ON THEIR STATES
MANDATED REPORTING PROCESS.
REPORT
ALL CCSD EMPLOYEES WHO KNOW OR HAVE REASONABLE CAUSE TO BELIEVE THAT A
CHILD MAY HAVE BEEN ABUSED OR NEGLECTED MUST CONTACT THE CHILD ABUSE
AND NEGLECT HOTLINE AT (702) 399-0081 TO REPORT THE SUSPECTED CASE OF
CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
OUR REVISED PROCEDURES WILL ALSO REQUIRE EMPLOYEES WHO SUSPECT
PHYSICAL OR SEXUAL ABUSE TO ALSO CONTACT CLARK COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
POLICE SERVICES FOR DIRECTION (702) 799-5411. THIS INCLUDES EMPLOYEES
WHO SUSPECT THAT A CHILD IS A VICTIM OF SEX TRAFFICKING, OR THE CHILD MAY
BE ENDANGERED IF HE OR SHE RETURNS HOME.
THE NEW PROCEDURES ALSO WILL REQUIRE EMPLOYEES TO NOTIFY THEIR SCHOOL
ADMINISTRATOR OR DESIGNEE. ADDITIONALLY, THEY MUST ALSO CONTACT THE
SCHOOL COUNSELOR OR SCHOOL NURSE IF THEY ARE ON-SITE.
 WHAT CAN WE, AS EDUCATORS, DO TO HELP?
CREATE A DIALOGUE
CHILDREN OFTEN KEEP ABUSE A SECRET, BUT
BARRIERS CAN BE BROKEN DOWN BY TALKING
OPENLY ABOUT OUR BODIES, SEX, AND
BOUNDARIES. TEACH YOUNG CHILDREN THE
LANGUAGE THEY NEED TO TALK ABOUT THEIR
BODIES AND INFORMATION ABOUT BOUNDARIES
TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT IS ALLOWED
AND WHAT IS INAPPROPRIATE. THESE LESSONS
HELP THEM KNOW WHEN SOMETHING ISNT
RIGHT AND GIVE THEM THE POWER TO SPEAK UP.
SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS PSA
RESOURCES
HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=YCEXPAVAWQUHTTP://WWW.D2L.ORG/SITE/C.4DICIJOKGCISE/B.6069299/K.3937/EDUCATORS_NEED_PREVENTION_TRAINING.
HTM

HTTP://WWW.NSVRC.ORG/PROJECTS/CHILD-SEXUAL-ASSAULT-PREVENTION/PREVENTING-CHILD-SEXUAL-ABUSE-RESOURCES

HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=SA52UFJB28Y

HTTPS://WWW.RAINN.ORG/ARTICLES/CHILD-SEXUAL-ABUSE

HTTP://WWW.CCSD.NET/DISTRICT/PAT-PERSONALLY/2014/FEB/11/REPORTING-CHILD-ABUSE-AND-NEGLECT

HTTP://WWW.BEAKIDSHERO.COM/FREE-TOOLS/10-REASONS-CHILDREN-DONT-DISCLOSE-ABUSE/

HTTP://WWW.LVMPD.COM/SECTIONS/ABUSENEGLECT.ASPX

HTTP://WWW.CLARKCOUNTYNV.GOV/FAMILY-SERVICES/SERVICES/PAGES/CHILDPROCTECTIVESERVICES.ASPX